At this point, I’m not really sure I have to tell you that we love wine. Not only is it a hobby of mine, but it’s also my day job. Going wine tasting is a fairly common occurrence for us, but we often encounter people who are a little intimidated at the idea.

Wine is not just for snobs, it’s for everyday people like you and me. The following are some ideas for making the most of a wine outing. Remember, the aim is to hone in your senses, discover new types and styles, and learn about the process and wine region, not to get sloshed.

Plan Your Trip

Napa Valley is likely the most popular wine region in the country, if not the world. Yet, there are a ton of other places with wineries all over the country. We’ve tasted all up and down the West Coast, and even in Raleigh, North Carolina and Hawaii. Figure out where you will be and search for wineries nearby. For the larger regions, there will usually be a winegrowers association or visitor group that will have descriptions of each place along with a map.

You may want to call ahead to the wineries in which you are interested to figure out what they will be tasting if you are particular about what you like to try. Some places have tours, special events, restaurants, etc. These are fun to check out and often make the trip more memorable.

Transportation definitely needs to be taken into consideration. I haven’t really done a limo or private car tour because they tend to be so expensive, but they are a good idea if you can swing it. Otherwise, be responsible and have a designated driver. Just a little bit of wine can impair your judgment and get you and possibly others into trouble.

Pack a Picnic and Plenty of Water

Pack a cooler with ice and bring food for lunch. Instead of eating at a restaurant, head to a grocery store. You can grab deli sandwiches before you head out, or just grab a loaf of French bread, hummus, veggies, deli meats and cheeses to snack on at a picnic site.

Being well hydrated is important! Bring a large bottle of water for each person. For a little extra something, it’s nice to just slice up some lemon and toss it in the water bottle.

You may need a separate cooler to store wine you have bought that day. Red wine doesn’t usually need to be chilled, but keep in mind that your purchases could be ruined if they spend too long in a hot car. The general rule is for stored wine to not get above 75 degrees.

If you neglect to eat and stay hydrated, you are doing yourself a disservice. Having too much wine ruins your ability to properly taste. If you are planning to go to several places in one day, take it easy. You don’t want to be the drunk person who ends up with a headache and passes out before dinner. If you’re looking to get crazy drunk, you may as well just head to the bar.

General Guide to Tasting: Swirl, Sniff, Sip

Here I am a while back volunteering at a local winery, pouring wine for my friend Christine. Hi Christine!

At most tasting rooms, you’ll be presented with a glass and a list of wines available to taste. Sometimes you will need to choose a limited number of wines to try from an extensive list. I usually like to try my favorite styles, but I will also take into consideration something that I haven’t had before and if the winery or wine region specializes in any one type in particular. If you’re not sure, tell the person pouring what you usually look for in a wine – red or white, smooth or bold, dry or sweet, etc. – and that should help them make a suggestion.

You will see people swirling glasses, and they’re not doing this to be fancy. (OK, maybe some of them are.) Swirling is the beginning of the tasting process, although it’s not typically done with white varietals. This is all about “the nose” of the wine or the aroma. Be sure to stick your nose into the glass and get a good whiff to see what it smells like. I’m still working on picking out some descriptions, so ask for help if need be.

For red wines, swirling also helps to decant the wine. It really opens up the flavors if you open the bottle in advance and let it breathe. I like to think of it as letting wine wake up a little bit.

Next, you’ll take a sip. Slowly play with the wine in your mouth a little bit and see what flavors linger. Remember: there aren’t any added flavors to wine, but the winemaking process will give the impression of flavors – citrus, tobacco or spice, for example – that you might see on a tasting note. Some people like to aerate the wine in their mouth by mimicking an inhaling whistle. Most people, me included, don’t really do this. I’d skip it until you are getting better at identifying flavors. I feel a little self conscious doing this, but that could just be me.

Finally, you’ll want to take note of the wine’s “finish.” What do you taste just after you’ve swallowed? Does it linger or end quickly? Wine is complex, and will often have different characteristics at each point, which is part of the fun of trying and comparing them.

Pace Yourself

As I said above, you have to maintain self control. How do you pace yourself?

• Dump what you don’t like. There’s no point in drinking it because you feel bad or like you’re throwing some perfectly fine wine away.
• Pass on wines that don’t interest you. Just tell the person pouring that you would like to pass.
• Ask for smaller pours. Some places use stoppers to make sure only about 1 ounce of wine gets into your glass. Other places eyeball it, and they usually pour more this way.
• Share a tasting. Matt and I do this often. Another bonus is that it’s often cheaper. Plus, if there’s something you wanted to try again, they will likely give you more. This should only really be done if you intend to purchase it.

Building Your Collection

To me, buying a bottle of something you like is an important part of wine tasting. It’s like a souvenir of a fun time and is often something you’ll open when entertaining or celebrating. There is so much hard work that goes into each bottle. It really is a beautiful craft. For this reason, if I find something I like, I will want to show my support in that way.

Some people collect various things, but for us, we have a wine collection. Every time we open a bottle, there’s a story behind it and a memory that we tap into.

If you have any additional tips, please share in the comments below! Need some suggestions on places to go? I’ve written about some places we’ve gone, but also feel free to email me and I would be glad to offer you some suggestions.